The New Year Advantage: Start Your Degree at Cornerstone University January 2026
Starting your Cornerstone University degree in January 2026 offers students a strategic advantage and enrollment is open to help you accelerate the timeline to invest in your career and calling today. It’s not just earning a degree — it’s gaining career-specific life skills your future will require and living out your Christ-centered calling with purpose and clear direction.
Supported by strong student resources, one of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation, and accessible financial aid, January is a strategic time to start, whether you choose to study on campus, as a commuter, as a transfer student, online, or through SOAR™ mobile.
The Wall Street Journal has highly ranked Cornerstone as one of America’s top universities and Newsweek has recognized CU as a top online college for three consecutive years. Discover how the Cornerstone Advantage™, morally grounded, career-ready preparation rooted in a Christian worldview, can be your pathway to achieve a life of meaning that God has called you to pursue.
Start Now. Accelerate your market-aligned advantage faster: Enter the year with momentum and a purposeful timeline. At Cornerstone, you join a Christ-centered learning community dedicated to helping you grow intellectually, professionally and spiritually. Our 65-plus accredited academic programs, including our new SOAR™ mobile business degrees, are specifically designed to emphasize practical, marketplace-aligned learning so students can apply new in-demand insights immediately — in the workplace, in internships, in leadership roles and in daily life. Cornerstone offers degrees across a wide range of industries with high-growth potential to secure your future, including business, communication, nursing, health care, engineering, counselling, computer science, education, ministry, and more.
Cornerstone is one of the most affordable Christian universities in the nation and continues to expand access for students. The university recently extended its tuition freeze for traditional campus students through the 2026-27 academic year and renewed the Cornerstone Commitment Grant — a tuition-free partnership for all full Pell Grant and maximum Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Online tuition is already one of the most affordable compared to other national online degrees. CU’s traditional tuition is comparable to many public universities, yet offers the advantages of a private, personalized and Christ-centered learning experience. This commitment to value has helped drive an 18% increase in freshmen and transfer enrollment this year as more students seek both affordability and a meaningful educational environment. We offer up to 75 percent of previous credits to help you finish your degree sooner.
January also aligns with one of the year’s most active hiring periods,* as employers launch new initiatives, reset budgets, and expand teams. It’s the top month of the year for job searches and newly posted opportunities. Pursuing your degree not only helps your resume, but for certain roles, it’s required. And you can stand out with HR and hiring supervisors if you are looking to advance in your current role. Pursuing a college degree enhances your profile. Starting your studies during this season positions you to advance your career goals while developing relevant, in-demand skills like decision-making, communication, leadership and team building. You don’t have to wait until fall to gain the Cornerstone Advantage™https://www.cornerstone.edu/academics/.
Cornerstone offers flexible pathways for students at every stage of life — on-campus class options for high school graduates and graduate students, commuter-friendly programs, fully online degrees and SOAR, our 100% mobile-first learning platform and business degrees. Across each format, students experience the relational strength of a Christian university where professors mentor, support and guide you toward your calling. And you study alongside peers who share your goals and Christ-centered values.
Turn January into your advantage. Whether you are beginning college for the first time, transferring, returning to finish your degree or advancing professionally as a working adult, January offers a timely and impactful moment to begin.
Your Next-Step Advantage: Let Cornerstone Help You Get Started
- Explore Cornerstone’s 65+ degree programs.
- Apply today for January 2026.
- Connect with an admissions counselor for personalized guidance.
- Check out financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
To begin, contact us at admissions@cornerstone.edu or call 616.222.1426.
Indeed Q&A: When Is the Best Time of Year to Look for a Job?, Hanne Keiling,
June 1, 2025
